March 16, 2008
NCAA NORTHEAST REGIONAL - SEMIFINALS
TOP-RANKED BENTLEY ADVANCES TO REGIONAL FINAL WITH 60-41
WIN OVER BRYANT SUNDAY NIGHT
BOX SCORE
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| Senior Jon Ezeokoli concluded his standout career against
Bentley Sunday night. Ezeokoli, a third-team all-conference
selection, finishes his career with 1,343 career points and four
trips to the NCAA tournament. http://www.dspics.com/
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WALTHAM, Mass. - What had the makings of a tight game early on
turned into a run away as the Bentley Falcons showed why they are
the top team in the land in cruising past Bryant, 60-41 to advance
to the NCAA Northeast-10 Regional Championship Tuesday night where
they will face Assumption College.
Bryant, making its fifth-consecutive appearance in the NCAA
championships, ends its season at 18-13. This is the final
season for the Bulldogs in Division II as the school moves to
Division I starting next fall.
The Bulldogs started this one fast, racing out to a quick 14-4
lead thanks to 5-of-8 shooting from the floor. Two power
moves inside by Jerrann Wright (Cincinnati, OH) and back-to-back
three's by Jon Ezeokoli (South Orange, NJ) and Cecil Gresham
(Bloomfield, CT) helped trigger the strong start for the visitors.
But just as they have done all season long, the Falcons stayed
poised and took advantage when Wright picked up his second foul
five minutes into the game sending the junior forward to head to
the bench.
With Wright out, the Falcons responded with a 6-2 spurt to pull
to within 16-15 and tied the game on a three from reserve Brian
Tracey. It was only Tracey's third three of the season.
But it was just what Bentley needed as a fast break bucket by
Mike Quinn after a Bryant turnover and a fade away basket by Yusaf
Abdul Ali just beating the shot clock, put the hosts up
24-18.
Bryant shot just 32 percent (8 for 25) from the floor and turned
the ball over six times leading to seven Bentley points.
But it would only get worse in the second half as
Bentley's defense held the Bulldogs to just 16 points in the second
half as Bryant made just 5 of 25 from the floor (20 percent).
A Gresham (9 points) put-back pulled the Bulldogs to within
37-34, but Fritsch was there to answer, draining a wide-open three
to make it 42-33. Then, after a three from Mike Quinn,
Fritsch would put the game away by hitting back-to-back three's to
make it 57-37 and the rout was on.
Ezeokoli finished with 8 points and eight rebounds before coming
out of the game to a standing ovation by the Bryant faithful as the
senior ends his career with 1,343 career points.
"Just look at what he has been able to accomplish during his
career," said coach Max Good referring to four NCAA tournaments and
three Sweet Sixteen appearances. "He's one of the best
players to ever play basketball at Bryant."
Fritsch scored 17 points for Bentley on 5 of 8 shooting from the
floor and 4-for-5 from behind the arc. The Falcons improve to
32-0 this season, tying the school and New England basketball
record for consecutive wins in season.
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Post Game Notes ...
* Second-seed Assumption College was the winner of Sunday's
other semifinal, holding on for a 52-51 win over third-seed Saint
Rose.
* Bentley has now won 62-straight against Northeast Region teams
and a Division II-best 36 in a row at home.
* Bryant is now 9-10 all-time against team's ranked in the
Division II top-25 poll. Bryant's last win came in 2006 against
Bentley. The Bulldogs also defeated No. 24 Saint Anselm
earlier in the 05-06 season.
* Bentley posted a remarkable second-straight unbeaten regular
season (one that included 22 wins against Northeast-10 opponents
and a victory over defending Division II champion Barton.
* Bentley shares the No. 1 ranking this week with Grand Valley
State. It is the fourth time in the program's history Bentley
is ranked No. 1. Bentley has been atop the polls for
14-straight weeks. Only one team in Division II history has
spent longer at number one (Evansville, 1964-64, 19 weeks) and
Bentley's 14 weeks matches Winona State's 14 consecutive last
season.
